Performing correct shaft alignment the first time is important to increase longevity and savings. New  installations often experience mortality in the early stages if proper installation procedures are not followed. Common causes include failure to monitor fundamentals. Such as proper foundation work, elevation and filling work.

Most, if not all of the installed pumps, fans and blowers have been working extensively. Often the source of problems is that correct maintenance is not considered necessary. The term is “bring it close and let it run.”

As we all know, this is not good business and repairs must be done properly.

A well-built facility is not good enough if it is not installed properly.

Advances in technology have come a long way to serve the rotating equipment industry.

Smartphone users have applications available to calculate heat gain. Determine off-line running conditions and torque lockup configuration.

Nesessary elemental?
Many engine manufacturers do not leave enough space to put the socket in position to tighten the foot bolt.

So you have to use a flag type to do this. We all know what happens when great pressure is applied.

After a few tightening cycles, the corners of the bolt or nut begin to round.

My technicians had difficulty with this and started using box screw heads to tighten the foot bolts and the end result was inconsistent readings and the problem was not reproducible with the laser alignment tool . We use Fixturlaser XA Pro and NXA Pro.

I equipped them with a torque lock extension kit to help solve this problem.

These extensions are 4” long but only 3/8” and ¾” socket heads are the maximum size.

Other applications?
There is a very good smartphone app that will let you calculate. The extension length is added to the torque wrench and the correct torque value is calculated.

You can get creative with larger size cap screws and how to make tools using old head wrenches you cut up, flat hammer wrenches, etc.

You can change the length to accommodate the multiplied torque. We are now applying these new techniques to the installation of our new rotating equipment.

Attention to detail, ensuring all elevations are correct, base plates are installed properly, fabricating transfer marking tools for motor base shafts.

After a rough alignment for lateral misalignment, start with a 0.125 shim under the motor foot and stand the foot still.

Verify your pads, even if they say they are correct, measure them with a micrometer to be sure, as I have seen variation that can cause headaches.

We perform alignment before filling and final alignment after filling and connecting pipes, checking pipe tension.